Aragon named general contractor for Empire State Building observation deck rehab

Aragon Construction has been appointed general contractor for the Empire State Building Observatory renovation project, which began in late May and is set to reach completion in Sept. In conjunction with JCJ Architecture, Aragon is revamping the 86th floor observatory. Refurbishment of the 950 s/f interior observatory deck includes both interior and exterior alterations. The granite flooring, stone wainscoting wall surrounding the inner deck, and two, four-tier staircases are being renovated. Aragon is also replacing the current glass work with double-hung, anodized windows, increasing the R value (measure of thermal resistance) from R-1 to R-7. "This higher rating greatly reduces heat transference and increases energy efficiency relative to heating and cooling the space," said Alex Getelman, president of Aragon Construction. In addition to these enhancements on the 86th floor, Aragon will perform minor touch-up work on the paint, tile and signage on the Welcome Landing on the 2nd floor. Currently, the Empire State Building is undergoing more than $550 million in capital improvements. "Aragon competed with the most prominent service providers for a key component of our Observatory upgrade as part of our Empire State Rebuilding program," said Anthony E. Malkin of building owner, Empire State Building Company. "Their expertise and ingenuity won them the job. We look forward to their fulfilling the promises made at their hire." Due to the high volume of tourists that visit the observatory every day, it's imperative that there will be minimal interruptions to the building's daily operations during the construction process. "We will be able to ensure that business is not affected during construction," continues Getelman. In 2008, Aragon completed a full floor LEED build out for Brennan Beer Gorman Architects/Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors (BBG-BBGM). The biggest challenge Aragon faced with BBG-BBGM's 32,000 square foot build-out involved the firm's new HVAC system, which required the installation of two chillers on the roof's four setbacks -- a task never before attempted at the Empire State Building. Aragon successfully overcame this hurdle, thereby allowing the offices to utilize a 24/7 cooling system that operates independently of the rest of the Empire State Building's mechanical infrastructure. Other projects Aragon has completed at the Empire State Building include Starbucks, Taylor, Bank of America, Napoli Bern and several other large infrastructure projects.